At the end of the Central line is a town where the streets are plunged into darkness and the night always prevails. No, this is not a sci-fi novel it's an actual place where the streetlamps are banned and the only light at night come from the London Underground station and the surrounding shops.
Theydon Bois is a village in Epping Forest. It is the second last stop on the Central line and because of pressure from locals, it has banned its streetlamps at night. The villagers have consistently voted against the installation of such lighting for decades, out of fear that it would ruin the ambience and take extra money out of their pockets.
Back in 2010, the Essex County Council implemented plans to switch off 70 per cent of Epping Forest's streetlamps at night, as a money-saving bid to save £6.5million by 2020. The shops there illuminate the roads around it, as does the Underground station. This makes this a remarkable place to look around and an amazing place for stargazers.
You can even rent out the village hall for stargazing, such is the pull of the village for the activity. The Loughton Astronomical Society regularly meets in Theydon Bois every Thursday to talk about the universe. They call themselves 'West Essex's community for astronomy enthusiasts and sky watchers of all levels' and meet there because 'it retains its village charm but importantly, it is a reasonably dark sky'.
When they proposed the streetlamps being turned off, Essex Police said that there was no increase in crime with a reduction of lighting. But there have been concerns over the years from locals as you can see with the change.org petition set up by the Theydon Bois parish council.
The one part of Theydon Bois that does have street lights is the Underground Station. But, as you start to get away from the station you notice only the houses and shops illuminating the streets.
Theydon Bois does have more about it than just the preservation of the village ambience by not turning on streetlamps. Its most iconic landmark is called the 'Avenue of Trees' which is a row of oak trees planted in the 1830s.
There is also the annual Donkey Derby, which is usually held in July. The highlights are the donkey races all done by children which people can also bet on. It has a wider fete around it.
It also has a very famous resident, West Ham co-owner David Sullivan. He lives in Birch Hall, near Theydon Bois.
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